Bucket holder



Feb. 23, 1943. j. M. LUMLEY 2,312,256-

- BUCKET HOLDER Filed Oct. 1, 1940 INVENTOR. MAue/ce' .LUMLEX ATTORN E-YS- Patented Feb. 23, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUCKET HOLDER Maurice Lumley, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The F. H. Lawson Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 1, 1940, Serial No. 359,274 2 Claims (01. 2224-45) This invention relates to a bucket holder for carrying two pails or buckets at the same time.

For many cleaning purposes it is desirable to be able to carry two buckets, one of which may contain a soapy water and the other a rinsing water, and while two separate buckets may be used, it is more convenient if the two buckets may be combined to a unit. Devices of this type have been used before but have always been subject to one or more objections. Either special buckets were used which were flattened in the region where they were juxtaposed or an integral structure was provided in which the two buckets were permanently fastened together. In such case, obviously, it is impossible to empty one bucket without emptying the other, and furthermore if it is desired to use only a single bucket, then an empty bucket must be carried along.

With the above considerations in mind, it is an object of my invention to provide a bucket holding device which may be used in connection with ordinary buckets or pails such as may be purchased on the open market. It is another object of my invention to provide a device of the character described in which the buckets do not need to be modified in any way whatever and by means of which the buckets may be attached to or detached from the device at will by a simple operation requiring no tools. It is a further object of my invention to provide a device such as described which will hold two buckets in proper vertical position even though the buckets have tapering walls as is common. Further objects of my invention include the provision of such a device which will be extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which may be used with buckets of a variety of sizes.

These and other objects of my invention which will be clear to one skilled in the art upon reading these specifications or which will be described more in detail hereinafter, I accomplish by that certain construction and arrangement of parts of which I shall now describe an exemplary embodiment. Reference is now made to the drawing forming a part hereof and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the device.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the same taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the same taken on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the device on a reduced scale.

Figure 5 is an. assembly view showing the device with one bucket in position and another bucket being placed in position to show the manner of its use.

Briefly, in the practice of my invention, I provide an element having handle means, said element extending between the two buckets which are to be held therein. At the base of the device I provide at extended positions therefrom means for engaging the bottom rims of the pails and adjacent the top I provide means for engaging over the upper rims of the pails. The means at the bottom end are constructed in a manner to hold the pails in true upright position while the means at the upper end are designed to permit use of the device with buckets or pails of difierent dimensions.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the device consists of a piece of sheet metal or the like indicated generally at I ll and which is preferably flanged as at I I to provide for stifiness and rigidity. Formed from the material of the member Ill at the top are a pair of ears l2 through which is passed a bail [3 by means of which the device may be carried. Also struck out from the material of the member ID are the elements l4 and I5. As will be clear from a consideration of Figure 2, the members I5 are struck out and bent slightly inwardly so that they may properly engage the curvature of the. buckets. The member I 4 being at the point of; tangency may be in a plane substantially parallel to the member If). It will be observed that the members I 4 and I5 are of considerable length so, that they may accommodate pails or buckets of;

difierent dimensions.

At the bottom of the member H) I provide; flanges Hi to which is fixed by spot welding or: The base;

any desired means a base member l'l. member I! is provided with a strengthening rib l8 and the member I0 is notched as at I 8a to accommodate the rib I 8. The member I1 is of generally hourglass shape as best seen in Fig ure 3 to accommodate the curvature of the bottom rims of the buckets and it is provided with central upstanding flanges I9 and other upstanding flanges 2E1. It will be observed that the flanges H) are somewhat more extended than the flanges 20 and. as shown in Figure 5 it is clear that the bottom rim 2| of a bucket is positioned between the flanges l9 and 20. Thus the flange l9 holds the bucket from falling out or sliding out while the flanges 20 maintain the bucket in its vertical position since the flanges 20 are spaced out from the member H] by an amount dictated by the taper of the bucket.

In use a bucket is positioned as shown in Figure 5 by bringing the bucket up so that its top rim enters under either the members [5 or the member l4 and the bottom of the bucket is lifted over the flange l9 and seated between the flange I9 and the flanges 20.

When thus seated, as shown at the left of Figure 5, it will be clear that the bucket is secured and cannot slip or fall =out. Yet when it is desired to change the water or to use a bucket by itself, it is an extremely simple matter to remove it from the holder.

It will be clear that many modifications will suggest themselves to one skilled in the ,art,.and I therefore do not intend to limit myself emerwise than as pointed out inmthelclainis which follow. Havingsnow fully "described my 'invene an e t. r

a platform at the lower end of said member having interspaced upwardly extending flanges, both of said flanges being spaced further from said member than said ears, and one at least of said flanges on either side being spaced further than said other flanges, said farthest spaced flanges being of less height than said other 2'. A device of the character described, comprising a piece of sheet metal having a bail "fastened to the top thereof, and having ears struck out and extending downwardly in planes "gefie'ran parallel to and spaced from said membr and .a "platform fixed to the bottom of said memberat right "angles thereto, and having on either side of member upwardly extending ,flangeg, onc fiange at least on each side of said member being fiir'ther spaced from said member than said other flanges, and being of less height, and allo f saidflan-ges being farther spaced from said member than said ears.

amt. 

